Typewriting machine



Oct. 25, 1938. H A. AVERY ET AL 2,134,097

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29. 1938 WWW XNVENTORS #14. lrer 7 1ffiarzd/ W ATTORNEYS ill Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNlTED s'rArssTYPEWRITING MACHINE Henry Allen Avery and Joseph P. Barkdoll,

Groton, N.-Y., assignors to L. C. Smith a Corona Typewriters, Inc.,Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 29, 1938,Serial No. 187,611

16 Claims. (01. 197138) The invention relates to improvements intypewriting machines and more particularly to paperholding bailmechanisms or devices for retaining work pieces in proper relation withthe platen for receiving impressions from the types.

The invention has for its principal object to provide an improved paperbail mechanism or device affording efficient control of the paper fortyping, introduction of the paper into the machine, and for makingerasures.

To the foregoing and other ends which .will appear hereinafter, theinvention consists in the combinations of elements and devices,arrangements of parts, and features of construction describedhereinafter and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, with certain parts broken away,showing the invention embodied in its preferred form and incorporated ina known typewriting machine of the semi-front strike or three-quarterstrike variety, the bail being shown in its on or working position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. 1, but showing the paper bail intwo difierent ofi positions;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the bail mechanism with the parts positionedas in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5- is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the illustrated partsdifferently positioned as more fully hereinafter explained.

Referring to the drawing in which the invention is shown incorporated ina known Corona typewriting machine, l designates the traveling platencarriage having end plates It and lil I I the rotary platen mounted inthe carriage, and I2 the carriage bed upon which the carriage travels.In addition to these parts, the known machine also includes type barswhich strike upon the upper front portion or quadrant of the platen, oneof said type bars being shown in the drawing and designated IS. Theimprovements will now be described.

The paper bail comprises a metal rod or shaft H, a pair of sheet metalside arms l and I6 connected at their upper ends by said rod. and theusual pair of rubber-faced paper feed rolls ll rotatively mounted on rodM. The bail also has a suitable hand knob or finger piece l8 fixedthereto at its right hand end opposite rod l4 and at the outer face ofbail side arm It. The side arms of the bail are pivotally mounted attheir lower ends on the carriage end plates by means of pivot elementsl9 and 20 for swinging of the bail into and out of contact with theplaten about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the machine.The saidaxis is located below and forward of the printing line of themachine, and the is anchored to the carriage and to side arm l5 of thebail to constantly tend to pull the bail into on position and toyieldingly hold the bail in that position, the on or paper-clampingposition of the bail being shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Provisions are made (1) for a maximum cast off position of the bail inwhich rod 14 andthe feed rolls ll thereon are located a considerabledistance from the platen forward of the-vertical plane of the printingline to permit ready access to typed matter at the printing line formaking erasures, in which maximum cast-off position the bail is notlatched against return movement but must be held by the typist and fromwhich the bail is free to return to on position upon release of the holdof the typist on the bail, and (2) for an intermediate cast off andlatchedoff position of the bail in which the rod [4 and rolls I! areclosely adjacent the platen but spaced therefrom to permit readyintroduction and adjustment'of paper sheets into the machine by thetypist. The intermediate cast off and latched off position of the bailis shown in Fig. 2, and the maximum cast off position of the ball isshown in Fig. 3. I

The bail is latchable in the intermediate ofi position shown in Fig. 2through the medium of a pivoted latch lever or arm 22 mounted on thecarriage and of a stud or pin 23 fixedly held to side arm l5 of thepaper bail.

Stud 23 projects outwardly from bail arm l5 above bail pivot I 9 througha suitable arcuate clearance slot 24 in carriage end plate Ill Latchlever 22 is located at the outer face of end plate Mi and said lever ispivotally held at its rear end to said end plate by a suitable pivotelement 25 to rock up and down. The latch lever extends forwardly andupwardly from its pivot over the shaft of platen H and is normally butyieldingly held drawn down into the position shown in Fig. 5 by means ofa pull spring 26 anchored to said lever and to end plate Ili An upwardlyextending stem 2'5, formed integrally with the latch lever and extendingupward from the upper edge of said lever adjacent the forward end of thelever, is formed at its upper end with an outwardly projectingfinger-piece or key 28 and an inwardly projecting stop lug 29. Stop lug29 normally rests on the upper edge of end plate ill of the carriage.Depending from the lower edge of lever 22, forward of the platen shaftand adjacent the free forward end of lever 22, is a latching nose 30integral with the lever and having downwardly converging forwardly andrearwardly facing cam edges.

In the normal lowered position of the latch lever the nose 3|] overlapsslot 24 in end plate Ill and is in the path of movement of stud 23 onbail arm l5. In the on or paper clamping position of the bail shown inFigs. 1, 4 and 5, the stud 23 is behind or in rear of latch nose 30, asshown in Fig. 5. In the latched off intermediate off position of thebail, shown in Fig. 2,

the stud 23 is engaged against the forward cam' edge of the latch nose30 and the latch holds the bail against return to on position by reasonof the engagement between said nose 30 and stud 23.

The cam edges of the nose permit camming or lifting of latch 22 by stud23 to permit said stud to pass said nose when the bail is pulled forwardby the typist from the on position of the bail, and also when said bailis pushed rearward by the typist from the intermediate and latched "offposition of the bail shown in Fig. 2, but when the bail is merely pulledforward from the .on position far enough for the nose to drop behind thestud (or slightly farther, as shown in Fig. 6)' and is then released bythe typist or the pull thereon temporarily relaxed, the force existentat such times in spring 2| tending to restore the bail to on position isinsufficient'to permit stud 23 to cam upward the latch lever and passthe'nose on said lever. However, if the typist pulls the bail forward aconsiderable distance beyond that of Fig. 2 or 6 (as into the full offposition of Fig. 3) and releases the bail, the bail will receivesufficient return impetus, due to the added stressing of spring 2| andalso to bail momentum acquired before stud23 contacts nose '30, for thestud to force itself automatically past the bail latch nose and permitthe bail to automatically assume its on position.

To facilitate latching off of the bail in the intermediate oiT positionthereof shown in Fig. 2, and'also to determine the maximum ofi positionof the bail shown in Fig. 3, there is provided a cam and gravityactuated or controlled bail stop or arresting device in the form of asheet metal link 3| having therein a closed'siot 32 which extendsgenerally longitudinally of the link. Said link or stop device 3| ispivotally held at one end thereof to side arm I6 of the bail at a pointabove the bail pivot 20 by a pivot element 33 to permit the link or stopdevice to swing edgewise up and down relatively to the bail side am.There is also provided for coaction with link 3| an inwardly projectingstud or pin 34 which extendsthrough the closed slot 32 in the link, saidstud 34 being so located that in the on position of the bail it is closeto (but preferably out of contact with) that end of slot 32 adjoininglink pivot 33, as. shown in Fig. 1. Engagementof said stud 34 with theopposite endof the slot 32 determines the full.

or maximum off position of the bail, as shown in Fig. 3. Gravitationalforce 'on the link tends to swing the link downward and forward aboutpivot 33' toward a pendant position.

To facilitate latching of the bail in the position shown in Fig. 2 andto permit shifting of the bail to its full off position from either saidlatched off position or the "on position of the bail, there is formed onone edge of slot 32 of the link 3| (that edge which normally tends togravitate into contact with stud 34 when the bail is pulled forward) acam hump or projection 35 rounded or shaped for riding thereof in bothdirections over stud 34 and located adjacent the end of the slot whichis nearest the link pivot 33, and there is formed on the opposite edgeof said slot 32 and slightly farther from said link pivot than cam 35 abail-stopping projection 36, projection 36 having an abrupt bailstoppingedge facing toward the link pivot and converging at the top of theprojection with an oppositely facing cam edge of said projection facinggenerally toward the opposite end of link slot 32. r

The described construction of the bail cast-ofl arresting meanscomprising link 3| and stud 34 is such that when the typist pulls thebail forward away from the platen into the position shown in Fig. 6(that is, just far enoughfor slightly farther than is necessary, topermit latch nose 30 to drop behind stud 23) cam 35 coacts with stud 34to throw or flip link 3| upward and rearward into the bail arrestingposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 in which the abrupt edge ofprojection 36 is pressed forward against stud 34 and preventscontinuation of for- Ward movementof the bail under continued pull onthe bail. If the typist, when the bail is arrested in the position shownin Fig. 6, releases the bail it' will move slightly rearward into theposition shown in Fig. 2 and will be held there by latch 22, and thearresting link 3| will be released by the resultant release of pressureof abrupt edge of projection 36 against stud 34 and gravitate into theposition of said link shown in Fig. 2, in which latterposition of thelink stud 34 is to the rear of cam 35 and clear of projection 36.

It will be obvious, therefore, that the typist may readily cast-01f andlatch the bail in the position of Fig. 2 and may pull the bail forwardfrom said latched off position into the maximum off position of Fig. 3.It will also be obvious that the typist may fully cast off the bail fromthe "on position by pulling the bail forward into the arrested positionof Fig. 6, then slightly relaxing or reversing the forward pull topermit dropping of link 3|, and then again pulling forward on the bailuntil the forward motion is arrested with the bail in the position shownin Fig. 3 by engagement of stud 34 with the end of slot 32 adjacent thenon-pivoted end of link 3|. Upon release of the hold of the operator onthe bail, after the bail is brought to full off position, the cam 35 andprojection 36 will ride over stud 34 during return of the bail by spring2|, and the bail return force due to the full stretching of spring 2|and the bail momentum acquired before stud 23 engages nose 3|] of thebail latch is such that the stud will cam the latch upward and ride pastnose 30 to thereby permit automatic full restoration of the bail fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

Manual release of the bail for restoration by spring 2| from the latchedoff position of Fig. 2 may be effected either by rearward pressure onthe bail or its handle l8 or by upward rocking of latch lever 22 byrearward pressure on fingerpiece 23 of said latch lever. r It will beapparent from Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that in the bail positions shown in Figs.1 and 2 the type bars areoperable to print without collision with anypart of the baiLincluding the paper feed rolls :ILbut that in the bailposition of Fig. 3 such collision (at least with the feed rolls I1) ispossible. It will be seen, however, that in the described constructionit is impossible for the typist to accidentally leave thebail in theposition of Fig; 3 or any otherposition in which the type bars maycollide therewith; thus making it impossible for damage" to occur to thetypes or bail'from such a collision. It will also be apparent that theparts may be so designed that the latched off and full off positions ofthe bail may be varied relatively to each other and to the platen fromthe relative positions shown in the drawing.

What we claim is:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a manuallyretractible paper bail mounted 'forswinging thereof toward and from theplaten respectively into and out of paperpressing relation with theplaten, spring means constantly urging said bail toward the platen andnormally yieldingly holding said bail in paper-pressing relation withthe platen, and means controlled by manual retraction of the bail fromits paper pressing relation With the platen to positively arrest-suchretraction at a predetermined point and controlleol by relaxationof the manually applied bail retracting force to permit manualretraction of the bail beyond said predetermined point. p

'2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a manuallyretractible paper bail mounted for swinging thereof toward and from theplaten respectively into and out of paperpressing relation with theplaten, spring means constantly urging said bailtoward the platen andnormally yieldingly holding said bail in paper -pressing relation withthe platen, and means controlled by manual retraction of the bail fromits paper-pressing relation with the platen to positively arrest suchretraction at a predetermined point and controlled-by relaxation of themanually applied bail retracting force to permit manual retraction ofthe bail beyond said predetermined point, and means controlled by manualretraction of the bail to said predetermined point to prevent return ofthe'bail by said spring means to paper-pressing relation with theplaten.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a manuallyretractible paper bail mounted for swinging thereof toward and from theplaten respectively into and out of paperpressing relation with theplaten, spring means constantly urging said bail toward the platen andnormally yieldingly holding said bail in paper-pressing relation withthe platen, means controlled by manual retraction of the bail from itspaper-pressing relation with the platen to positively arrest suchretraction at a predetermined point and controlled by relaxation of themanually applied bail retracting force to permit manual retraction ofthe bail beyond said predetermined point, and means controlled by manualretraction of the bail to said predetermined point to prevent return ofthe bail by said spring means to'paper-pressing relation with theplaten, and controlled bythe bail to permit return of the bail by saidspring means to paper-pressing relation with the platen upon release ofthe bail after the manual retraction of the bail beyond saidpredetermined point.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a pivotallymounted paper-pressing 'bail constantly spring-urged toward the platenand manually retractible from paper-pressing relation with the platen,means for positively stopping manual retraction of the bail uponretraction of the bail a predetermined maximum distance from the platenand controlled by retraction of the bail a lesser distance from theplaten and a slight partial return movement of the bail toward itspaper-pressing relation with the platen to first positively stopretraction of said bail and then free the bail for retraction thereofsai d predetermined maximum distance from the platen. 1

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a pivotallymounted paper-pressing bail constantly spring urged toward the platenand manually retractible from. paper-pressing relation with the platen,and retraction limiting means for the bail, controlled by the bail topositively stop manual retraction of the bail at first one and then theother of two different predetermined points, at the second of whichpoints the bail is retracted considerably farther from the platen thanit is at the first point, and detaining means controlled by the bail topermit full return of the bail to paper-pressing position by theconstantly exerted spring force upon release of the bail at the secondof'said points and to prevent such full return of the bail by saidspring force upon release of the bailatthe first of said points.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a pivotallymounted paper-pressing bail constantly spring-urged toward the platenand manually retractible from paper-pressing relation with the platen,means for positively stopping manual retraction of the bail uponretraction of the bail a predetermined'maximum distance from 'the platenand controlled by retraction of the bail a lesser distance from theplaten and a slight partial return movement of the bail toward itspaper-pressing relation with the platen to first positively stopretraction of said bail and then free the bail for retraction thereofsaid predetermined maximum distance rom the platen, and detaining meanscontrolled by'retraction of said bail said lesser distance from theplaten to permit said partial slight return movement of the bail and tohold the bail against further return movement by the constantly exertedspring force.

' 8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a pivotallymounted paper-pressing bail constantly spring-urged toward the platenand manually retractible from paper-pressing relation with the platen,means for positively stopping manual retraction of the bail upon retraction of the bail a'predeterrninecl maximum distance from the platenand controlled by retraction of the bail a lesser distance from theplaten and a slight partial return movement of the bail toward itspaper-pressing relation with the platen to first positively stopretraction of said ball and then free the bail for retraction thereofsaid predetermined maximum distance from the platen, and detaining meanscontrolled by retraction of said bail said lesser distance from theplaten to permit said partial slight return movement of the bail and tohold the bail against further return movement by the constantly exertedspring force, said detaining means being conditioned by maximumretraction of the bail to permit full return of the bail by said springforce upon subsequent release of the bail.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a paperfeeding device spring held in paper feeding relation with the platen andmanually retractible out of paper feeding relation with the platen, andretraction. stopping means for said device automatically conditioned byretractive movement of said device from paper feeding relation with theplaten to positively stop retractive movement of said device at apredetermined point and also automatically condition by a slight partialreturn movement of said device from said predetermined point to permitretraction of the device beyond said predetermined point.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a paperfeeding device shiftable into and out of a paper feeding relation withthe platen into which it is spring urged and from which it is manuallyretractible, means automatically conditioned by retraction of saiddevice from its paper feeding relation with the platen to positivelystop such retraction at a pref determined point and automaticallyconditioned by a slight partial restoration of said device to saidrelation from said point to permit retraction of said device beyond saidpoint, and means automatically conditioned by retraction of said deviceto said predetermined point to prevent full restoration of said deviceinto paper feeding relation by the spring force exerted on said deviceexcept when said device j is released after manual retraction beyondsaid predetermined point.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a support forthe platen, a manually retractible paper-pressing bail mounted on saidsupport for swinging thereof toward and from the platen and constantlyspring urged toward the platen, a shiftable bail-retraction stoppingelement pivotally held to said bail, a fixed bailretraction stoppingelement held to said support, and cam means on said first stoppingelement coactive with the second stopping element .upon retraction ofthe bail to swings-aid first element about its pivot into abail-retraction-stopping engagement with the second element from whichit is pivotally shiftable by the action of gravity on said first elementupon a slight return movement of the bail.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a support forthe platen, a manually retractible paper-pressing bail mounted on saidsupport for swinging thereof toward and from the platen and constantlyspring urged toward the platen, a shiftable bail-retraction stoppingelement pivotally held to said bail, a fixed bailretraction stoppingelement held to said support, cam means on said first stopping elementcoactive with the second stopping element upon retraction of the bail toswing said first element about its pivot into a bail-retraction-stoppingengagement with the second element from which it is pivotally shiftableby the action of gravity on said first element upon a slight returnmovementof the bail, and releasable means for detaining the slightlyreturned ball against further return movement under the, influence ofthe spring force urging the bail toward the platen.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a supporttherefor, a. manually retractible paper bail pivotally mounted on saidsupport for swinging movement toward and from the platen and constantlyspring urged toward the platen, a bail-retraction stopping elementpivotally held at one end of the element to the bail to swingtransversely of the pivotal axis of the bail, a fixed stopping elementon the support, said pivoted stopping element having two abutment meansspaced diflerent distances from its pivot to engage said fixed stoppingelement at difierent points in retractive movement of the bail to arrestsuch movement, said pivoted element having cam means engageable with thefixed element during bail retraction to cause stopping engagementbetween the fixed element and the abutment means nearest the pivot ofthe pivoted element and to permit bringing of the second abutment meansinto bail retraction stopping engagement with said fixed element by apartial restoration and greater retraction of the bail.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a platencarrier, a paper bail pivoted on the carrier to permit retraction of thebail from the platen, and means connecting said ball and platencarrierand controlled by bail movement to positively stop bail retraction atdifierent points. c

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a platencarrier, a paper bail pivoted on the carrier to swing about a horizontalaxis and constantly spring urged toward the platen, a link pivoted atone end to the bail to swing about a horizontal axis under the influenceof gravity and having a pin and slot connection with the platen carrieroperative to arrest retraction of the bail from the platen at first oneand, then the other of two different points and to free the bail forretraction to the farthest one of said points by a'slight restoration ofthe ball from the other one of said points, such freeing of the bailbeing effected by a pivoted movement of the link under the influence ofgravity, and said link being freed for such movement by said slightpartial restoration of the bail.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a platencarrier, a paper bail pivoted on the carrier for retraction from theplaten and spring urged toward the platen into paper pressing relationwith the platen, means connecting the bail and carrier and controllableby pivotal movements of the bail to positively stop retractive movementof the ball at first one and then the other of two diiferent points, andmeans for preventing automaticv spring restoration of the bail from thefirst one of said points into paper pressing relation with the platen.

HENRY ALLEN AVERY. JOSEPH P. BARKDOLL.

